Due to the Brunswick Complex wildfires, the Fraser Valley Regional District upgraded an evacuation alert to an evacuation order on Thursday night (July 23) for properties south of Hells Gate to north of Alexandra Lodge.
The order only applies to properties within the FVRD electoral area.
Spuzzum First Nation has also upgraded an evacuation alert to an evacuation order for the Yelakin IR 4 and 4A, Long Tunnel IR 5 and 5A reserve lands.
FVRD evacuation orders remain in effect for properties in Boston Bar, Scuzzy Creek FSR, Hell’s Gate, Nahatlatch and North Boothroyd, North Bend and Canyon Alpine, Fishblue Lake, and properties south of Boston Bar. An evacuation alert has been issued for properties south of Hell’s Gate down to Alexandra Bridge.
Boston Bar First Nation and Boothroyd Indian Band have also issued evacuation orders.
According to the FVRD’s daily video update on July 23, some residents still haven’t evacuated order areas.
“We understand evacuation reluctance, however, these individuals are violating the law. This action leaves them at risk,” FVRD communications manager Samantha Piper said in the update.
Piper said although public safety is the top priority, attention is taken away from protecting structures and defending the community when community members stay in evacuation order areas.
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said in its latest update that remaining in evacuation order areas puts crews at risk and interferes with operations.
“Our priority is life, followed by property. When crews are committed to protecting human life, they are unable to protect other priority values,” BC Wildfire Service said in its latest update.
Highway 1 remains closed between Spuzzum Creek Rd and Jackass Summit due to the Brunswick Complex fires.
However, Highway 3 reopened to single lane alternating traffic between Sunshine Valley and Manning Park. The highway was previously closed due to the Norwegian Creek wildfire.
Drive BC advises drivers not to stop in the wildfire zone.
The Brunswick Complex is comprised of the the 5,711-hectare Anderson Creek wildfire, the 17,298-hectare Ainslie Creek blaze, and the 6,139-hectare Brunswick Creek fire.
BCWS said aggressive fire behaviour on Thursday (July 23) led to rapid growth of the Anderson Creek fire above Canyon Alpine, leading the head of the wildfire (V11090) to merge with the southern edge of the Ainslie Creek wildfire.